In 2023, I as soon as once more had a possibility to interview quite a few individuals throughout the sport. Lots of their phrases had been shared in my Sunday Notes column, whereas others got here through an assortment of Q&As, characteristic tales, and the Talks Hitting collection. Here’s a number of the perfect quotes from this 12 months’s conversations, with the bolded traces linking to the items they had been excerpted from.
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“Mike came visiting to me and mentioned that they had been most likely going to take Gausman, as a result of they wanted a school pitcher who was going to be fast to the large leagues..… We thought Buxton was going to be our man. That was how we ranked them. We had Gausman after Mike [Zunino], however we had Buxton forward of each of them.” — Tom McNamara, former Seattle Mariners scouting director
“Victor [Martinez] would go up there and name his shot,. He would say, ‘I’m going to take a seat on a breaking ball right here,’ then he’d spit on two fastballs and once they hung a breaking ball he would hit it into the bullpen. He was actually enjoyable to observe hit, as a result of he was taking part in chess up there loads of instances.” — Josh Barfield, Arizona Diamondbacks farm director
“There are indicators with the arrival of Statcast and ball monitoring which might be much more predictive of the underlying metrics, that are extra predictive than conventional price statistics. That’s on a 12 months over 12 months. However once you have a look at multi-year fashions, gamers change and projection comes into play. That’s the place the artwork comes into play.” — Randy Flores, St. Louis Cardinals scouting director
“Each morning Josh wakes up, and in his Slack channel is a major-league pitcher that has a sport plan hooked up to it. It’s just a little little bit of an train that we do with him. He’s recreating what it seems like to arrange that day… If we’re going through [Framber] Valdez, or going through [Gerrit] Cole, what angles do I wish to arrange? The place are my eyes? What’s the self-discipline in my eyes that day?” —Donny Ecker, Texas Rangers bench coach/offensive coordinator
“I just like the artwork vs. science factor. That’s a superb debate to have as a result of there’s actually not a proper reply. However I do suppose generally the artwork of getting hits will get misplaced. Everyone desires to stroll, and there’s launch angle, exit velo — you get all of those numbers on FanGraphs due to these items — however then you’ve got guys like Tony Gwynn and Rod Carew, guys who merely might hit. There’s an artwork to that.” — Trea Turner, Philadelphia Phillies infielder
“I believe the Twins had been much more about analytics; they’d much more of a data-driven strategy to hitting. Right here, I really feel prefer it’s much more about really feel. It’s form of ‘Let’s break down your strategy. What pitches are you swinging at?’ versus wanting on the numbers. It’s not like we’re not numbers — I believe we do a superb job of that — it’s simply that there’s extra of, say, what you are feeling within the cage. I believe we’ve a superb steadiness of analytics and what I suppose you may name an older-school kind of hitting.” — Spencer Steer, Cincinnati Reds infielder/outfielder
“I believe that’s the place loads of groups have a disconnect. The information guys will be shy and not sure of themselves across the clubhouse, the place loads of alpha-type personalities are strolling round bare, very positive of themselves round different alpha dudes.” — Matt Duffy, Kansas City Royals infielder
“That’s the sweetness, and the complication, of hitting. The arms maintain the bat, and I’m tremendous targeted on the place they’re and the way they really feel, however on the similar time, I don’t suppose that actually drives my swing. I believe my again elbow and my legs form of drive the swing.” — Anthony Volpe, New York Yankees shortstop
“I began pitching once I was eight or 9 years previous and give up after I used to be 11 because of a head harm. I took a line drive off the proper aspect of the temple space. When it hit me, I simply went black. Lengthy story brief, I had a significant concussion and needed to have surgical procedure; it was a process to go in and cease bleeding. The surgical procedure was easy, however on the similar time, what head surgical procedure is easy?” — Andrew Baker, Philadelphia Phillies pitching prospect
“After commencement I used to be planning on going to medical college. I went to my teammate’s draft social gathering — Sam Bachman went ninth general to the Angels — and I bear in mind going dwelling prepared to maneuver on. However later that week, I used to be in the course of an MCAT observe examination — I used to be about 5 hours in — and received a name from a random quantity. I muted it.” — Grant Hartwig, New York Mets pitcher
“Go ask Corridor of Famers like John Smoltz, who did it. They’ll inform you that it’s robust to get the final three outs every day — particularly for therefore lengthy — so in fact closers belong within the Corridor of Fame. I do know that I’d vote for Billy Wagner. He was lights out.” — Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox reliever
“It’s like a kicker in soccer. For those who miss a discipline objective, everyone seems to be working over to you and asking, ‘How did you miss that?’ It performs in your thoughts, as a result of kicking discipline objectives is your solely job. Identical factor for a more in-depth: your solely job is to get these final three outs. Individuals act prefer it’s straightforward to do, but it surely’s not.” — Mark Gubicza, Los Angeles Angels broadcaster
“I find it irresistible. I imply, simply being on the market, controlling the sport… some don’t just like the fastball, a few of them can’t hit the off-speed, so that you’re figuring them out. That’s enjoyable. Getting them to not hit your pitches is enjoyable.” — Tink Hence, St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect
“I imply, he appears like a five-year-old on the market taking part in the sport. The enjoyment he brings is unimaginable. However whereas I positively like having enjoyable, I’m additionally a thinker. I like breaking issues down, So whereas I’ve just a little little bit of Julio in me, I’m additionally my very own individual.” — Henry Ford, Seattle Mariners catching prospect
“Freddie Freeman doesn’t have that top of a launch angle. You have a look at a man like him; he’s hitting .330 and has, I believe, 20 dwelling runs. He might most likely hit 40 dwelling runs with a batting common .100 factors decrease if he wished to. However he’s a hitter.” — Vinnie Pasquantino, Kansas City Royals first baseman
“It’s not the prettiest factor you’ll ever see, but it surely will get the job performed… For those who have a look at your common lefty, sweet-swinging [Robinson] Canó-type of participant, they’ve these good lengthy swings. As a result of I’ve at all times been making an attempt to remain as brief as doable, making an attempt to not swing and miss, it’s simply form of compact.” — Sal Frelick, Milwaukee Brewers outfielder
“At one level final 12 months, I believe there have been 70 factors between my anticipated batting common and my precise batting common. Little issues like that permit me know that what I used to be doing was proper. It was, ‘OK, if we put this product out for 162, we’ll be in a superb place.’” — Christian Walker, Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman
“I believe each participant who’s ever performed the sport has cared about exit velocity, whether or not they realize it or not. Proper? Each batted ball that’s ever been hit has had an exit velocity and has impacted efficiency. It’s positively a separating issue. You want to have the ability to hit the ball onerous to manage your luck as finest you possibly can.” — Nico Hoerner, Chicago Cubs infielder
“We’ve got a stat the place we’re what our slug is per your launch angle. Hitting the ball actually onerous, even at 4 levels, which is principally an ankle-high line drive, can nonetheless produce hits. You don’t essentially should hit the ball within the air… you possibly can form of create your individual luck, so to talk.” — Austin Hays, Baltimore Orioles outfielder
“I put it on, and heard my dad’s voice: ’Oh, mother. You bought him the unsuitable glove.’ It was for the unsuitable hand, however I didn’t care. I cherished it. I took it to mattress with me. I wore it each day, and I discovered easy methods to throw left-handed due to that glove.” — Craig Lefferts, former big-league pitcher
“My grandma was knowledgeable [fastpitch] softball participant. She performed for the Bahamas Nationwide Crew. That’s what actually received me into baseball — I discovered loads of my baseball expertise from softball — and she or he performed till she was 60, too. She was simply superhuman.” — Jazz Chisholm, Miami Marlins infielder/outfielder
“He had actually excessive arms — bat over the pinnacle — however there are some similarities in the best way that our hips fireplace and the best way that our bats come via the zone. I imply, I principally discovered to hit from him, so I’m positive I received some tendencies from that.” — Mike Yastrzemski, San Francisco Giants outfielder
“Each simply performed novice, and never even faculty. However my uncle throws nice batting observe — he has a rubber arm — and my dad was really… my hometown is Petaluma [California] and he was the Petaluma long-ball champion in slow-pitch softball. He has a fairly candy lefty swing.” — Spencer Torkelson, Detroit Tigers first baseman
“I’m Fargo via and thru. Although I haven’t spent my total life there, it’ll at all times be dwelling for me. I’m really shifting north, although, to Roseau, Minnesota, the place my spouse is from. Roseau is 12 miles from the Canadian border, round 3,000 individuals reside there, and I really like that space of the nation.” — Erik Swanson, Toronto Blue Jays pitcher
“There are guys who’re excessive and have these bangers, these nasty curveballs, after which there are lower-slot guys like me the place getting horizontal motion is just a little simpler. And now with all of the assets we’ve, just like the slow-motion cameras that present your hand positioning at launch, it’s simpler to know who’s extra appropriate for horizontal motion quite than vertical.” — Pablo López, Minnesota Twins pitcher
“Everybody knew spin was good, however they didn’t understand that effectivity mattered on a fastball. The carry quantity… the carry issues on a fastball. Vertical strategy angle issues on a fastball. Horizontal and vertical motion issues. On the time, it was simply ‘For those who can spin the ball quick, you wish to throw it on the high, and then you definitely wish to throw the curveball.’ It was ‘Spin is what performs’ — they only didn’t know why.” — Sonny Gray, Minnesota Twins pitcher
“I’d say my fastball received much more hoppy. My fastball coming in right here was very lifeless zone. It was a really flat heater. My slider form of bundles my curveball just a little bit — it’s not very large velocity distinction — so I’ve had to determine a distinction with that.” — Tanner Bibee, Cleveland Guardians pitcher
“PNC was packed, and it was enjoyable to play in entrance of all these followers. However as time went on, in ’18, ’19, ’21, Opening Day was the one packed home you noticed. Or if the Dodgers or Yankees had been on the town… I imply, it was virtually like an away sport. However the followers are so keen about their metropolis, about sports activities basically, that in the event that they spent some cash and tried to win extra video games, the place would fill again up fairly rapidly.” — Adam Frazier, Baltimore Orioles infielder
“It’s robust to remain in a constant headspace each day. That’s why I seize my journal lots… I’ve two. One is for off-the-field stuff and one is for baseball stuff. I write about hitting stuff lots within the black one. The black one is for baseball. The brown leather-based one is for all times.” — Logan O’Hoppe, Los Angeles Angels catcher
“Each sport we attempt to do comparable issues, however at some point it is perhaps a 3 strikeout sport, and the following day could possibly be a 3 homer sport. You might be making an attempt to do very comparable issues and be getting very totally different outcomes. Determining why at some point is best than one other is without doubt one of the more durable elements of the sport.” — Paul Goldschmidt, St. Louis Cardinals first baseman
“Hitting will get tougher as you become older, and also you become older rapidly. Probably the most satisfying half about hitting as you become older, or as you age on this sport, or with time and expertise on this sport, is fixing the issue, fixing the equation. It requires changes. It requires a sure stage of self-discipline.” — Joey Votto, Cincinnati Reds first baseman
“It’s like a 747 racing a Porsche over 100 yards. The 747 is finally going to go manner quicker, however the Porsche goes to get there identical to that… I’d wager that Luis Arraez has a really quick time to affect from when he begins shifting his bat towards the ball. I’d wager that point, when you can quantify it, is manner shorter than it’s for Giancarlo Stanton.” — Charlie Blackmon, Colorado Rockies outfielder
“I strive to verify I can get my barrel contained in the ball to strike. That’s how I create my backspin. I determine my swing is just a little outdated for what they educate today, like an up-shoot swing. My setup is exclusive its personal, however I imply, pure course, I attempt to strike down and on the within of the ball to create backspin.” — Giancarlo Stanton, New York Yankees DH
“I assumed you’ll simply cut up the two-seam — go wider on the two-seam — which is what lots of people do, however he confirmed me extra of a one-seam grip. For those who’ve seen Kodai Senga of the Mets, it’s much like his grip. I’m splitting the one-seam. The index finger goes excessive of the horseshoe.” — Logan Gilbert, Seattle Mariners pitcher
“The umpire raised his hand and gave me like a ‘one’ sign, and I assumed he meant one warmup pitch left. I suppose he was saying, ‘That’s an auto ball.’ After I threw my first pitch, which was a ball, I seemed up and noticed 2-0.” — Joe Jacques, Boston Red Sox pitcher
“The sport can velocity up on you fairly rapidly. However I believe the pitch clock has performed nice issues with tempo of play, making the sport transfer alongside at a tempo the place gamers are glad, followers are glad, and everything of baseball is glad.” — Kyle Freeland, Colorado Rockies pitcher
“I used to be actually near retiring. I imply, once you’re married and beginning a household you don’t essentially wish to hold taking part in ball for 30 grand a 12 months, not when you possibly can earn much more and supply for your loved ones. The place I come from, there are loads of refineries and you may get paid lots. There are chemical vegetation and rubber factories. The gulf coast of Texas is simply straight refineries of the whole lot you possibly can think about.” — Grant Anderson, Texas Rangers pitcher
“I don’t take into consideration that. I take into consideration, ‘When am I going to go dwelling?’ I at all times thought the sport was going to dictate once I went dwelling… There was no purpose to suppose I’d nonetheless be throwing the ball like I’m now. It could have been illogical.” — Charlie Morton, Atlanta Braves pitcher
“I’ve at all times preferred the thought of pitching, as a result of it’s identical to golf. You go one pitch at a time, and one shot at a time. You additionally know what you’re going to do main as much as that pitch, or to that shot. On the golf course, you understand that you simply wish to drive to a sure aspect of the green, as a result of that manner you’ll have a greater strategy to the inexperienced. Baseball is identical. I’m going to throw this pitch, as a result of it units up this subsequent pitch. The 2 go hand in hand.” — Bryce Elder, Atlanta Braves pitcher
“The grip isn’t a conventional slider grip. The tracks of the ball, above the horseshoe — each horseshoes — such as you’re throwing a two-seamer… you spin it such as you’re going straight perpendicular throughout [the seams]. You’re crossing them, after which my leverage is on that subsequent horseshoe. The leverage is with my center finger, and whereas that’s conventional, the grip itself is form of unorthodox. — Carlos Rodon, New York Yankees pitcher
“No, however I did mess with issues just like the Barry Bonds bat waggle and issues of that nature. On the finish of the day, what my swing was… I say to loads of guys that your swing is your swing. For those who might have a look at my swing once I was a younger child and evaluate it to now, you’d see comparable traits.” — Marcus Semien, Texas Rangers infielder
“Torii came visiting — they had been speaking to the primary base coach — and Miggy mentioned, ‘Hey, Might!’ I mentioned, ‘Me? Are you speaking to me?’ He mentioned, ‘Changeup. Nasty. I couldn’t see it yesterday.’ He’d taken me deep the day earlier than on a slider, so then he goes, ‘The slider. No.’ That was a Miggy second for me.” — Trevor May, Oakland A’s pitcher
“Making use of that logic — the knowledge that I heard many, a few years in the past — Spencer Strider is constant to get higher. He’s persevering with so as to add stuff to his sport whereas pitching nice and putting out loads of guys out within the course of. So long as he stays wholesome, he’s received loads of upside with what he’s going to have the ability to do with the baseball.” — Max Scherzer, Texas Rangers pitcher
“I don’t suppose there’s been anyone like him, and I’m nowhere near being who he’s, however my cutter is fairly much like Jacob deGrom’s slider at instances. When it’s good, I throw it at 93 [mph] with negative-two horizontal and 4 vert. Like I mentioned, on paper.” — Jackson Jobe, Detroit Tigers pitching prospect
“I attempt to have a anonymous, faceless strategy, not giving the man an excessive amount of credit score. I imply, there have been just a few at-bats the place you understand that the man goes to be an enormous leaguer and if he executes his pitches, there’s actually nothing you may do. You’ve simply received to hope that he makes a mistake. However actually, I’m largely simply going on the market doing me.” — Marcelo Mayer, Boston Red Sox infield prospect
“It’s a cue to arrange for a pitcher, identical to anything. As an example, if it’s a sinkerball man, you say, ‘Hey, search for him up, like at your neck.’ If it begins waist excessive, you don’t wish to swing at it as a result of it’s going to be a ball. Treating 95 like 100 is identical psychological cue as wanting in an space, or making a pitch begin in sure spot.” — Justin Turner, Boston Red Sox DH
“I prefer to relate it to a freeway. I’m getting on the freeway the identical manner, after which I’m taking the exits relying on the place the ball is thrown. For probably the most half, the start of my swing is identical. However the end, the contact level, and the diploma of my hip hinge, or my chest over my hips, is totally different on each single swing, simply relying on the peak.” — Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox first baseman
“John Hart mentioned to me, ’Ryan, good luck to you; we positive want we had you in our outfield.’ I bear in mind considering, ‘Actually? With Manny Ramirez, Kenny Lofton, and Albert Belle? What precisely would I be doing in your outfield?’ I believe I made the proper selection.” — Ryan Lefebvre, Kansas City Royals broadcaster
“I believe it’s simply items from totally different guys’ swings. I don’t suppose I appear like anybody else. I believe I simply appear like Bobby Witt Jr. That’s all I wish to be. I’m simply making an attempt to construct my swing to who I’m now.” — Bobby Witt Jr., Kansas City Royals infielder
“That’s the place the science is available in. You’re engaged on the mechanical a part of it, making an attempt to get to sure positions that different individuals can get to naturally. Like, I can’t do what a Ronald Acuña Jr. does or what Mookie Betts does…So yeah, to me it’s extra of an artwork. Some individuals are da Vinci, whereas others are up-and-coming guys, making an attempt to determine it out like Leonardo.” — Royce Lewis, Minnesota Twins infielder
“With loads of the fellows who throw cutters at the next velocity, that pitch will get sucked out to the zero-zero mark the place it’s extra of gyro-y kind cutter. Like I mentioned, his potential to create backspin and minimize is exclusive. He’s such a supinated pitcher. Every little thing he does is in that robust supinated place.” — Tommy Hottovy, Chicago Cubs pitching coach
“Yeah. Proper, proper, proper. That’s what they had been calling it: the whirly. Now they’ve absolutely embraced the sweeper right here. That’s what it exhibits on the scoreboard once I throw one, so I suppose that’s what it’s.” — Clarke Schmidt, New York Yankees pitcher
“It’s no totally different now than once I was a child. That’s why I requested to be traded from the Braves as a younger participant: I used to be uninterested in shedding. It was the identical manner once I was taking part in Cowboys and Indians. I wished to be the Native People, as a result of I used to be uninterested in watching TV and seeing the Indians lose on a regular basis. I’m critical.” — Dusty Baker, Houston Astros manager
“Not essentially. It simply depends upon the make-up. Look, the 12 months earlier than we went to the NLCS in my first 12 months there. Final 12 months was a disappointing season, however I don’t suppose there’s something to make of it being a poor 12 months as a result of there was an excessive amount of star energy… it simply didn’t work out as properly.” — Bob Melvin, San Francisco Giants manager
“Each membership has received a weak spot. In Detroit, our golf equipment had been so good place player-wise, and our beginning pitching was completely excellent. One of many unlucky issues that occurred is that a few instances we had bullpen guys get damage on the most inopportune instances… We had guys, however when you had been going to level to an space that was our weak spot, that might have been it.” — Dave Dombrowski, Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations
“I believe it could be considerably silly to simply strategy this previous 12 months as, ‘Oh, odds have it that you simply’re going to lose, so it occurred,’ You’ll be able to be taught from some issues that occurred final 12 months. I hope all people who’s concerned in that is having that reflection second and making an attempt to know what we might have performed in another way, what we should always have performed in another way, and what we are going to do in another way going ahead.” — John Mozeliak, St. Louis Cardinals president of baseball operations
“If I needed to do it over once more, we’d have had organizational conferences in January. We’d have had that giant group gathering in order that the communication was clear on what we’re about and what we’re making an attempt to perform. This 12 months we did that. We really did that the week after the season ended, so I really feel lots higher about this offseason.” — J.J. Picollo, Kansas City Royals GM
“Our pinch hitters did do an incredible job. The principle purpose for that was they did an incredible job of staying prepared. One adjustment we made was ensuring that they didn’t spend the entire sport within the cage. They had been into the sport, out on the bench. When it received nearer to the time that we might pinch-hit, they might go in and get free and put together themselves.” — David Bell, Cincinnati Reds manager
“I’ve been comped to Chris Sale. I believe Sale and I’ve the identical numbers on sure issues. After which Josh Hader’s and my vertical strategy angle [are similar]. There may be loads of outlier stuff in between sure guys, and there are particular individuals I’m much like, however I largely simply go on the market and deal with what I’m good at.” — Cooper Hjerpe, St. Louis Cardinals pitching prospect
“Vertical strategy angle is one thing we are able to very comfortably measure. Deception is just a little bit extra nuanced, however know-how is rising that enables us to account for what we predict may contribute to deception [and] to have the ability to mannequin that and create some quantitative contribution of deception.” — Craig Breslow, Boston Red Sox chief baseball officer
“I do have good extension. That’s my finest gimmick. I throw faux onerous.” — Phil Maton, Houston Astros pitcher
“These unfamiliar with the sport might imagine such a pursuit infantile, maybe delusional. This view misses the magic solely. What these individuals don’t perceive is that the love of a sport, rooted in everlasting hope, has a transcendent high quality that’s at all times with you. I’ll endlessly cherish my time chasing the epic and the chic on the baseball discipline.” — Jed Bradley, former big-league pitcher